The Evaluation of a Program to Promote Healthy Joints in Older Adults Residing in the Community

Eun, Young; Kang, Young Sil; Kim, Eun Shim; Kwon, In Soo; Oh, Hyun Sook; Gu, Mee Ock

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted from March to August, 2003 to evaluate the process and outcomes of a program to promote healthy joints in older adults residing in the community. METHOD: A quasi experimental research design (one group pretest-posttest design) was used in this study. The participants were 26 older adults (but 74 older adults also participated in a program immediately after the study program). Program had 4 sessions (8 hours) once a week. Data were collected before the program, immediately after and 4 weeks after the program was completed and were analyzed with paired t-test. RESULTS: The level of a satisfaction, interest and understanding of the program were high. Significant differences were found in the health state, the flexibility of neck and shoulder joints and joint exercise habits between the scores before the program started and 4 weeks after it finished. CONCLUSION: This results suggest that the joint health promotion program for older adults in the community developed this study is effective. So this program can be recommended as an effective nursing intervention for joint health promotion in older adults living in the community.